Review: A Queen of Ruin - K.F. Breene

The final book in the Wall Street Journal bestselling series!

I thought once we released the curse, I'd only have one enemy to contend with.

Wrong.

The queen lives. Not only that, but she knowingly hid herself from me and the rest of this kingdom until the moment the curse was broken. Now she is back, and her desires aren't clear. Neither are her motives.

Will she try to take the throne for herself?

We can stop her…unless she had a hand in that curse. In which case, will we need to battle her and the demon king before we can finally live in peace? Or has this all been for naught?

Regardless, we have very little time before the demon king returns to wipe us out.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

A Queen of Ruin is the fourth and final book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I've been totally hooked on this series since book one was published and have eagerly waited for each instalment since then so I was both excited and a bit nervous for this final book. I wanted it to be amazing but at the same time I didn't want it to end. I'm happy to say A Queen of Ruin is everything I hoped for and then some, it's a long book and so much happens but I really don't want to go into much detail because I'd hate to accidentally spoiler anyone. 

What I will say is that I was excited to get to spend some time exploring other kingdoms and meeting some of the other rulers, I loved getting to know the new characters from the last book even better and I was thrilled with the way Finley and Nyfain's relationship has developed over the course of the series. This final book was an emotional rollercoaster and there was one moment that shocked me to my core and had me so emotional I had to put it down and walk away for a bit before I could carry on reading but I still loved every minute of it.

I'm sad the series has come to an end but I love the way everything has wrapped up and I think we got a really fitting end to the series. That said I have really high hopes for a spin off or two, not because things have been left unfinished but because some of the side characters are so fantastic I want to spend more time with them. I can't say who because *spoiler* BUT one in particular is part of a HUGE revelation that I'm desperate to know more about. I'm sure anyone who has read the book will know exactly what I'm talking about.

K.F. Breene has long been an auto-buy author for me and this series has only cemented her place on my favourite authors list.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: A Kingdom of Ruin - K.F. Breene

Never sell your soul to the Demon King.

Too late.

In an effort to save all that I love, I have to finish the job Nyfain started… and ruin myself.

I've made a trade with the most cunning creature alive.

Me for them.

The dungeons will be my new home. Dolion's destruction will be my new goal.

I just have to get out of here and back to my golden dragon. Preferably alive.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

A Kingdom of Ruin is the third book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I have loved this series from the first book but it just keeps getting better and better with every instalment. After the cliffhanger ending of book 2 I knew Finley was going to be in for a bumpy ride in this book but there was so much I didn't expect from this story, especially the fun new allies she met along the way. Trapped in the demon realm thanks to the bargain she made to protect Nyfain Finley is now Dolion's prisoner and has a newfound home in his dungeon. Her bond to Nyfain protects her from some things but it doesn't stop physical torture from her guards so her life is now mostly pain and anguish as she tries to figure out a way to escape.

I really admire Finely's attitude and the way she is so determined to fight for and protect the people she cares about no matter what it costs her personally. She has earned a lot of respect from friends she made in Nyfain's court and her selfless attitude is starting to rub off on some of them which leads to some interesting developments. I love that we got some of the story from Hadriel's point of view here, his character is just so funny and gave some much needed light relief in places.

I don't want to say much about the new characters that we are introduced to but there are some I absolutely loved and can't wait to see more of in the future. There were some great revelations in this book and things are only going to get more interesting in the next book thanks to the way things ended. Luckily this didn't finish on such a cliffhanger as A Throne of Ruin but it's still left me wanting the next book ASAP.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Throne of Ruin - K.F. Breene

The only thing protecting me from the demons…is the beast. 

Nyfain, the golden dragon prince, tried to set me free. But there is no freedom in this kingdom. Not for anyone. 

The demons have sought me out. They want to trap me. To use me against Nyfain.

It's only a matter of time before they call in the demon king.

Nyfain thinks I should save myself. That I should barter with the demon king to escape this place.

But can I give myself to the creature responsible for torturing the people I love?

In order to save them, though, I might not have a choice. 

 ______________________ 

This is a dark and spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring an anti-hero, a strong heroine, and a humorous supporting cast. This is an enemies-to-lovers and possible fated mates story suitable for 18+. It's the second of four books, ending on a cliffhanger.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

I'm going to come straight out and say I'm loving K.F. Breene's take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale and I'm so happy we still have two more books to come in this series. A Throne of Ruin takes everything I loved about A Ruin of Roses and builds on it. More of the snarky humour, more of Finley's protective instincts to protect the people around her, a few more layers peeled back from the mysterious and sexy Nyfain not to mention plenty of kink.

I love that the romance isn't being rushed in this series but that we're seeing a very natural progression with the bond between Finley and Nyfain. As their feelings increase so does the danger surrounding them and I think they have a lot more to deal with before they'll be able to enjoy a HEA but I know I can trust this author to give them the ending they deserve.

I'm really enjoying spending time in this world but I'm going to warn you now the cliffhanger at the end is a doozy. It was a natural stopping point for the story but it has left me desperate to get my hands on the next instalment. I can't wait to see how Finley deals with the latest developments! This really is turning out to be a fantastic retelling and I can't recommend it highly enough to Beauty and the Beast fans.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Paperback / Kindle:

Review: A Ruin of Roses - K.F. Breene

Worldwide bestselling author K.F. Breene comes at you with a brand new spicy fantasy series! Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout, and Scarlett St. Clair. 

I could save him, but he would ruin me. 

The beast.

The creature who stalks the forbidden wood.

The dragon prince.

He has suffered a fate worse than death. We all have. A curse put upon us by the mad king.

We are a kingdom locked in time. Shifters unable to feel our animals. Stuck here by a deal between the late king and a demon who seeks our destruction.

The only one keeping this kingdom alive is Nyfain, the golden prince to a stolen throne. The last dragon shifter. 

He’s our hope.

He’s my nightmare.

When he catches me trespassing in the forbidden wood, he doesn’t punish me with death as he’s entitled.

He takes me, instead. Forces me back to the castle as his prisoner. Seeks to use me.

Apparently I can save him. I can save the whole forgotten kingdom, locked away by the demon king’s power.

But it would mean taming the monster beneath his skin. It would mean giving myself to him.

It would mean my ruin.

_ _ _ _ _ _

This is a dark and sexy Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring a strong heroine, a dangerous anti-hero, and a humorous supporting cast. It is a full length novel at 80k words and suitable for 18+. This is the beginning of a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Buckle up. The author was let off her leash.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

I'm a huge lover of all fairytale retellings but Beauty and the Beast ones have always been my favourites so when I found out K.F. Breene was writing one I couldn't get hold of a copy fast enough and A Ruin of Roses was a book I absolutely devoured. It has all the main requirements for a retelling so the story has a familiar feel to it but at the same time the author has put in enough of her own world building to also make it feel fresh and exciting.

I loved the main character Finley, she's no weak wallflower even though she's not the most powerful character physically. She has a strength of will and determination to protect her family at all costs and she also has a brilliantly snarky sense of humour that helps her see the funny side even when the odds are against her. 

Nyfain is harder to get a read on because he's so secretive and mysterious but I love a hero with layers and I'm sure there is so much more to uncover about him as the series continues. At the moment the curse is presumably making it difficult for him to talk about certain things so it'll be interesting to see how that resolves itself in the next book.

I think there's great potential for romance between Finley and Nyfain but I'm glad that it's not being rushed considering the circumstances of their meeting. They have chemistry already though and I can't wait to see it progress.

I'm already all in on this series, its dark but funny, full of action and will take you for a walk on the wild side. Bring on the rest of the trilogy!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Wires and Nerve Volume 1 - Marissa Meyer

The first graphic novel from #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller Marissa Meyer!

In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold.When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter, and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.

Lunar Chronicles Series:
Glitches (free prequel short story can be read online here)
The Little Android (free short story can be read online here)
Cinder
The Queen's Army (free short story can be read online here)
Scarlet
Cress
Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (free short story can be read by signing up for Marissa Meyer's newsletter)
Fairest
Winter

Wires and Nerve:
(Graphic novel series staring Iko set after the events in the Lunar Chronicles books)
Wires and Nerve Volume 1
Wires and Nerve Volume 2: Gone Rogue

Visit Marissa Meyer's website for more information

Review:
I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading this graphic novel (especially considering I bought my copy back in 2017!) but I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance. I love Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series and Iko was such a fantastic character all the way through so I was really excited when it was announced that she was getting her own spin off duology. I wasn't sure how it would work as graphic novels compared to the rest of the series but I actually liked getting to see drawn representations of each of the characters we've come to know and love. I will warn you now that this graphic novel contains HUGE spoilers for the main series so if you've not read the previous books I wouldn't advice starting with this graphic novel but for fans of the originals I'm sure you'll enjoy being back in this world.

Iko's story starts not long after the events in Winter and gives us the chance to see how each of the previous couples are getting along now. Some have been able to happily return to their old lives but others, like Cinder, have a lot more work to do to prove themselves. Iko is loyal to her friends above anything else and is like a protective older sister when it comes to Cinder but helping her settle into her role as queen isn't something she is really able to do. What Iko can do to help is deal with the wolf-hybrids created by Levana, the hybrids have been asked to return to the moon for retraining but a group of rogues remain on earth and are currently causing all kinds of trouble. As an android Iko is uniquely qualified to go after these super soldiers but even with her extra skills it's not going to be an easy task.

I really enjoyed being back in this world, Iko is just as much fun as I remember her being and I love the sense of humour she brings to the series. Although my personal preference is usually for more colourful artwork I thought the blue, white and black palette used for this novel worked really well. I liked the artist's vision of each of the main characters and didn't have any problems telling who was who just by looking at them. It was fun seeing where everyone's life is at right now but I'm really hoping to seem them all reunited in the next graphic novel.

I'm including pictures of the first couple of pages so that you can see each of the main characters for yourself:

Cinder, Kai, Thorne, Scarlet & Wolf

Cress, Jacin, Winter & Iko

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Last Wish - Andrzej Sapkowski

Geralt the Witcher — revered and hated — holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures in the NYT bestselling series that inspired the blockbuster video games.

Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

The Witcher Series:
The Last Wish (Short Story Collection)
Sword of Destiny (Short Story Collection)
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of Swallows
The Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms

Visit Andrzej Sapkowski's publisher page for more information

Review:
I'm going to preface this review by saying I was really unwell when I read this book and that may have affected my opinion of it. It took me much longer to read than it should have done and there were parts I listened to multiple times because my brain was too fuzzy to properly pay attention so it's very possible that I missed major details and that's why I didn't fully connect to the story.

I didn't know much about the Witcher series before I went into this book, I knew my brother was obsessed with the games when he was younger (but I'd never played them myself) and I also knew that it was being made into a series by Netflix (which was the main reason I wanted to read it, I mean come on, did you see the pictures of Henry Cavill as Geralt?!). Apart from that, and the fact it was high fantasy, I didn't know what else to expect so I was somewhat surprised when I realised that The Last Wish is actually a collection of short stories rather than a full length novel. I usually find short stories work better as an addition to series I'm already familiar with rather than an introduction to a new world but it was actually pretty well done in this case and allowed us to find out a decent amount about Geralt's background and some of the main characters I assume we'll see throughout the series.

The book starts with Geralt getting injured in a fight, he is taken to a temple to recover and while there he proceeds to recount stories of some of the other monsters he's come across over the years. These stories are interspersed with short updates on his recovery and what is happening in the current timeline. I really liked the huge variety of different monsters that are included, everything from vampires and werewolves through to djinn and gnomes. I loved that we get so many hints of familiar fairytales included in the stories, it makes the world feel familiar and I was always trying to guess what fairytale creature would pop up next.

As a Witcher Geralt has trained both physically and mentally to protect humans from monsters, even going so far as taking a potion that makes him not quite human himself and gives him extra speed, strength and healing abilities. Witchers provide an important service but it isn't always appreciated so he's always a little on the outside looking in no matter how far he travels. I'm really curious to find out more about Geralt but I don't feel like I know him that well yet and that made it a little harder to connect with the story. While there was a lot I enjoyed about the book I don't think I've been fully sucked into this world yet. My friends have assured me that I can start the TV series now though so I'm looking forward to that and I'm hoping I'll enjoy it so much that it'll make me want to continue reading the books.

Source: Purchased

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Updated cover for the Netflix Show

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Mirror, Mirror - Anthology

Once upon a time...

...in a world far removed from the days when fairy tales were new, five bestselling authors spin versions that take the classic stories into a new dimension. You’ll recognize Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and other enduring characters, but they’ll exist in realms beyond your imagination, where the familiar is transformed into the extraordinary and otherworldly.

Includes:
Taken in Death by J.D. Robb
If Wishes Were Horses by Mary Blayney
Beauty, Sleeping by Elaine Fox
The Christmas Comet by Mary Kay McComas
Stroke of Midnight by R.C. Ryan

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
J.D. Robb
Mary Blayney
Elaine Fox
Mary Kay McComas
R.C. Ryan

Review:
Mirror, Mirror is an anthology containing five stories inspired by fairytales and written by bestselling authors. I wanted to read this for J.D. Robb's contribution but I enjoyed the other stories too and have found a couple of new to me authors who I want to read more from in the future.

Taken in Death by J.D. Robb

This story is J.D. Robb's take on Hansel and Gretel, normally Eve is only involved in investigating murders but after the body of a nanny is discovered the team quickly realise that the children she was looking after have been abducted. Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down missing seven year old twins Henry and Gala before they come to harm at the hands of the evil witch who stole them.

Taken in Death was a really creepy novella with a cannibalistic evil twin and a couple of pretty smart children who are able to leave a trail for Eve to follow. A perfect read-in-one-sitting story that'll give you your Eve and Roarke fix while you're waiting for the next full length book to arrive.

If Wishes Were Horses by Mary Blayney

Mary Blayney's contribution is a historical romance inspired by the tale of Goldilocks, it's not what I'd call a complete retelling but you can definitely see hints of the original tale in here. This was quite a cute story that had a feel of Downton Abbey to it, there were a few things that didn't feel particularly realistic about this story but I found it fairly easy to overlook those because I liked the main characters and was interested in seeing them get a happily ever after.

Beauty, Sleeping by Elaine Fox

Elaine Fox has written a clever and original take on Sleeping Beauty where Beauty is a man and he's not technically asleep. Instead he's been cursed to spend his life as a ghost that nobody can see, hear or interact with, until his true love comes along and is able to save him.

The Christmas Comet by Mary Kay McComas

Mary Kay McComas' story is inspired by two tales I'm not really that familiar with, The Little Matchstick Girl by Hans Christian Andersen and The Star Money by the Brothers Grimm, so I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I could have. I think my main issue with this one was that the main character was just too much of a saint, it's great that she tried to help so many people but doing it to the point where she couldn't afford to pay her own rent or buy herself food was a bit ridiculous.

Stroke of Midnight by R.C. Ryan

The final story by R.C. Ryan is inspired by Cinderella. I really liked the way Sydney refused to be a victim and chose to live life on her own terms in spite of her step-mother. She and Cullen made a cute couple and I was really enjoying their romance but I have to admit the rushed proposal at the end did spoil it a little. I'd have preferred it if the romance had been developed over a longer time before getting to that point. Still a cute read but not my favourite in the anthology.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Paperback:

Review: Taken in Death - J.D. Robb

'The evil witch killed Darcia. Henry knew it because he'd seen Darcia on the floor, and all the blood. Everything felt funny and sleepy and wrong. He knew he was under a spell. The evil witch's magic spell.'

When twins Henry and Gala are kidnapped and their nanny killed, Lieutenant Eve Dallas steps in to take control. But video footage shows what appears to be their mother arriving and leaving with the obviously drugged seven-year-olds. Something is wrong, and Eve, her husband Roarke and her brilliant team are ready to work round the clock to get the children back alive...

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Taken in Death is an In Death series novella that is available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or as a separate ebook. I read it as part of the anthology (which I'd happily recommend to fans of fairytale retellings) but I'm reviewing it separately too as I know some people aren't interested in anthologies.

This story is J.D. Robb's take on Hansel and Gretel, normally Eve is only involved in investigating murders but after the body of a nanny is discovered the team quickly realise that the children she was looking after have been abducted. Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down missing seven year old twins Henry and Gala before they come to harm at the hands of the evil witch who stole them.

Taken in Death was a really creepy novella with a cannibalistic evil twin and a couple of pretty smart children who are able to leave a trail for Eve to follow. A perfect read-in-one-sitting story that'll give you your Eve and Roarke fix while you're waiting for the next full length book to arrive.

Source: Purchased

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Paperback (In the Mirror, Mirror anthology) / Kindle (on it's own):

Review: Werewolf Cinderella - Amanda Milo

Every eligible female *must* attend the ball by decree of the king.

On account of my tendency to suddenly turn from a woman into a wolf, I’d really prefer if I wasn’t being forced into attending.

Anger burns in my throat, making me growl.

Stepmother covers my hand with hers, gently squeezing my fingers.

That’s my stepmother. Grace above all; even under fire… or the threat of a noose. She’s a better woman than I.

What? You thought the rumors were true? That she’s my wicked stepmother, who’s kept me as her indentured servant under the stairs?

Oh my friend, you don’t know the half of this story.

To tell it, I’d best begin at the beginning.

Visit Amanda Milo's website for more information

Review:
I have to admit I went into this book with fairly low expectations, Amanda Milo is a new author to me so I didn't know what to expect from her writing but I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings so I couldn't resist requesting Werewolf Cinderella when I saw a request for blog tour participants. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the story and I hope she's going to write more retellings in the future!

We all know the story of Cinderella, most of us grew up watching the Disney version but I've also read the original story and multiple retellings over the years so it's not easy to put a new spin on it but Amanda Milo has managed to do exactly that. I love that the "evil" stepmother is not all she seems and that there is far more to the romance between Ella and Gareth's romance than in the original tale. The added paranormal aspect really worked for the story and this ended up being a really easy story to devour in one sitting.

Werewolf Cinderella was humorous, sweet and a little bit sexy. I would have loved a full length book about these two because I'd have been happy to spend more time in their world but the story didn't feel rushed and because we see so much of their history it didn't feel like insta-love either which is unusual for a novella. I'll definitely be checking out more of Amanda Milo's books in the future, especially if she decides to tackle more fairytales and give them her own unique twist.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Winter of the Witch - Katherine Arden

One girl can make a difference...

Moscow has burned nearly to the ground, leaving its people searching for answers - and someone to hold accountable. Vasya finds herself on her own, amid a rabid mob that calls for her death, blaming her witchery for their misfortune.

Then a vengeful demon returns, renewed and stronger than ever, determined to spread chaos in his wake and never be chained again. Enlisting the hateful priest Konstantin as his servant, turmoil plagues the Muscovites and the magical creatures alike, and all find their fates resting on the shoulders of Vasya.

With an uncertain destiny ahead of her, Vasya learns surprising truths of her past as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all...

Winternight Trilogy:
The Bear and the Nightingale
The Girl in the Tower
The Winter of the Witch

Visit Katherine Arden's website for more information

Review:
I put off reading The Winter of the Witch, partly because I didn't want the series to be over but also because I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my high expectations. It's not often you come across a trilogy that is utterly fantastic from beginning to end, especially a debut one, but the Winternight books have been everything I could have hoped for and then some. The world Katherine Arden created is richly woven with both Russian history and folklore, it's like stepping back in time and falling into a fairytale at the same time and I've loved every minute of it.

Things have been getting progressively harder for Vasya as Father Konstantin has set out to turn the world against her. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that in a world full of magical creatures and monsters the most evil character is an old white dude who uses religion as a weapon to demonise a young girl who has done nothing to deserve it, it's what men have been doing for centuries after all. Really his character was utterly despicable and it makes my blood boil just thinking about him! Anyway, Vasya doesn't give up easily and even when the world has turned it's back on her she won't do the same, especially when her family are in trouble and need her help.

I don't want to say too much about the plot of this final instalment but I will say that Vasya continues to grow as a character. She has come such a long way from the lonely child we first met and is now a confident and powerful young woman who is wise beyond her years. Yes she's made mistakes along the way but she always learns from them and comes out stronger because of it. I like that she's not as reckless as she used to be but she'll always be an action first apologise later kind of character because that's her nature.

This is the perfect series to curl up with on a cold winter's night in front of a fire and with a huge mug of hot chocolate and it's definitely one I'm looking forward to rereading in the future. Katherine Arden is an author to watch out for and her name has been added to my auto-buy list.

Source: Received from Del Rey in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Undying King - Grace Draven

The stories are told in whispers, even after so long: of a man whose fair rule soured when he attained eternal youth. Imprisoned by a sorceress wife in a city out of time and place, he has passed into legend. Few believe in him, and fewer would set their hopes on his mercy. But Imogen has no choice. To break the curse that's isolated her since birth, she'll find the Undying King--and answer his secrets with her own...

^^Author Note: The Undying King is a stand-alone (not part of any series) novella of approximately 43,000 words and is also available in a duology titled FOR CROWN AND KINGDOM. This tale is intended for more mature audiences and contains graphic descriptions of physical intimacy.

Visit Grace Draven's website for more information

Review:
The Undying King is part beauty and the beast retelling, part fantasy romance and it all adds up into a great read. Friends have been recommending Grace Draven's books for years but it was only after reading Phoenix Unbound that I realised how much I'd been missing out. Now after enjoying this book too I'm planning on working my way through the rest of her backlist as soon as I get a chance.

Imogen has spent her whole life living with a curse and unable to have skin to skin contact with anyone without causing their death. Her mother helped her live in isolation but on her deathbed she offered Imogen a glimmer of hope telling her that if she could track down the Undying King he would be able to cure her. The Undying King is living with a curse of his own though, he achieved eternal youth but ended up imprisoned alone in a lost city. Most people don't even believe the legends anymore but Imogen is desperate and she'll take any chance she can for the possibility of a normal life.

I really enjoyed this story and found it easy to root for Imogen and Cededa, I liked the hints of beauty and the beast but that it was still completely it's own story. The world building was good but I have to admit I wanted a little more of that side, this is a relatively short book and as a stand alone it didn't have a lot of time to delve into a detailed new world. I was also hoping for more at the end, it finished a little abruptly and left me wishing for a sequel. It was still a great story though and I have very high expectations for this author's other books.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Girl in Red - Christina Henry

From the bestselling author of Alice and Lost Boy comes this dark retelling of Red Riding Hood

It's not safe for anyone alone in the woods. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that was perfectly sane and normal until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there's something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods…

Visit Christina Henry's website for more information.

Review:
I love retellings and Christina Henry's take on Little Red Riding Hood was something really fun and unexpected. The bones of the original story is there, a young girl dressed in red making her way through a dark wood trying to reach her grandmother's house and facing danger along the way, but apart from that it's totally it's own story. It's set in a post apocalyptic world and we follow two different timelines throughout: After, where Red is alone and trying to make a difficult journey from her home to her Grandmother's house while avoiding military curfews and roaming bands of mercenaries, and Before, where we go back in time and slowly unravel what caused the apocalypse and how that affected Red and her family.

Both timelines were intense and fraught with danger and it kept me compulsively reading because I just HAD to know what would happen next. Red spent her entire life preparing for the apocalypse, her family used to make fun of her obsession with horror books and movies but it meant she was the most prepared to deal with the Crisis that hit the world and wiped out the majority of the population. She was the one with a plan and their best chance of survival in the dangerous new world they now find themselves in. I loved Red, yes she could be a bit of a know it all but she had the brains to back up her boasting and most importantly she was willing to fight to keep herself and others safe. There were times when she could have picked the easy road by herself but chose the harder option and put herself in harm's way to help others and that's always something admirable.

I would have liked a little more information about what caused the virus that ended the world as we know it but at the same time I think some stories can get bogged down in the details rather than focusing on the character's journey and I appreciate that it didn't happen here. Instead we focus on everything that happens to Red and how she reacts to it, the way her instincts kick in and just how hard she has to push herself to survive. The way people acted throughout the book was scarily believable, from the rare survivors who were willing to share their meagre supplies to the groups who practically turned into animals who only cared about themselves and saw anyone else as the enemy. This story is definitely a dark one and we see far more of the latter group than we do the former but there was just enough hope thrown in to keep it from getting too dark and depressing.

This story was everything I didn't know I wanted from a Little Red Riding Hood retelling and I can't wait to start reading through Christina Henry's backlog.

Source: Received from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Whole New World - Liz Braswell

Welcome to a new YA series that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. Each book asks the question: What if one key moment from a familiar Disney film was changed? This dark and daring version of Aladdin twists the original story with the question: What if Jafar was the first one to summon the Genie?

When Jafar steals the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed Princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

Twisted Tales Series:
A Whole New World - Liz Braswell
Once Upon a Dream - Liz Braswell
As Old As Time - Liz Braswell
Reflection - Elizabeth Lim
Part of Your World - Liz Braswell
Mirror, Mirror - Jen Calonita (2019)

Visit Liz Braswell's website for more information.

Review:
I grew up watching the Aladdin cartoon, it’s still one of my favourite Disney movies and I absolutely adore Robin Williams as the genie. Then last year I went to see the Aladdin musical with friends and I walked out of the theatre in the mood for Aladdin in book form, I knew A Whole New World was a twisted version of the story and it sounded like it would hit the spot perfectly so I couldn’t wait to dive in.

The beginning of this book follows the movie pretty much word for word, apart from a little extra from Aladdin’s childhood fans of the cartoon will easily be able to picture events as they unfold so I can understand why some people have said the beginning is a little on the slow side. That didn’t stop my enjoyment at all because it was exactly what I’d picked up this book hoping for.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Twisted Tale if the story stayed exactly the same as the original though and it doesn’t take long for the story to go in a completely different direction. What would have happened if Jafar had stolen the lamp before Aladdin had discovered the genie and made his wishes? Well you’re going to have to read the book for yourself to find out that but it does involve a street rat and a princess who join together to lead a revolution.

I really enjoyed Liz Braswell’s take on such a familiar story and I’m looking forward to seeing how she twists other familiar fairytales on their head.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik

Will dark magic claim their home?

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart and takes up his work in their village. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets her an impossible challenge – and if she fails, she’ll die. Yet if she triumphs, it may mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly spins a web which draws in the unhappy daughter of a lord.

Irina’s father schemes to wed her to the tsar – he will pay any price to achieve this goal. However, the dashing tsar is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power and love.

As with her standalone novel Uprooted, Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales. Taking Rumpelstiltskin as her starting point, Spinning Silver is a new rich, multilayered new story which is a joy to read.

Visit Naomi Novik's website for more information

Review:
Uprooted is one of my all time favourite books so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out she was writing another story in a similar vein but this time inspired by Rumpelstiltskin instead of Beauty and the Beast. I had incredibly high expectations for Spinning Silver but if anything it was even better than I'd hoped it would be.

The story is told from multiple points of view but the three main characters are Miryem, Wanda and Irina young girls with very different stories that all tie together in some way. Miryem is the daughter of a moneylender but although her father is happy to lend people money he finds it very hard to get people to pay him back. Life is tough for their family, food is scarce while people who have borrowed money from them seem to have more than enough to go around so Miryem decides to take matters into her own hands and take over the payment collections. It turns out she has quite a head for business and when she gets a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold she catches the attention of the Staryk King her life gets more difficult than ever.

Wanda is from a poor family, her mother died in childbirth and her father is a drunk but she does her best to look after her younger brothers and keep things going. She's horrified when she hears her father planning on selling her into marriage so when she's forced to work for Miryem to pay of her father's debts instead she's thrilled to delay an unwanted marriage. Especially when she realises that earning a wage may enable her to create a much better life for herself and her brothers.

Irina is the daughter of a duke so she has led a sheltered and privileged life but things change when her father comes up with a plan to marry her off to the tsar. When Irina catches the eye of a demon she realises she is in mortal danger and if she doesn't come up with a way to thwart him then the entire kingdom is in peril.

Spinning Silver is a fantastic tale and a perfect read for the winter months when you're wrapped up warm inside in front of a fire. Just like Uprooted it feels like an old fashioned fairytale, one that people could have been telling for centuries, but at the same time it's a new and fantastic take on the idea of Rumplestiltskin. One of the things I loved most was how strong all three main characters were, they're living in a time when women had very little in the way of rights but they all manage to take control of their own destiny and choose a future for themselves. There are so many layers to this story and Naomi Novik very cleverly takes each separate storyline and weaves them together into something magical. It's hard to decide which of these two books I loved the most but one thing for sure is that they've both earned a spot on my favourites shelf. I'm really, really hoping that the author will write more of these fairytale style books in the future because the first two have been absolutely fantastic.

Source: Received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Navigator's Touch - Julia Ember

After invaders destroyed her village, murdered her family, and took her prisoner, shield-maiden Ragna is hungry for revenge. A trained warrior, she is ready to fight for her home, but with only a mermaid and a crew of disloyal mercenaries to aid her, Ragna knows she needs new allies. Guided by the magical maps on her skin, battling storms and mutiny, Ragna sets sail across the Northern Sea.

She petitions the Jarl in Skjordal for aid, but despite Ragna’s rank and fighting ability, the Jarl sees only a young girl, too inexperienced to lead, unworthy of help. To prove herself to the Jarl and win her crew’s respect, Ragna undertakes a dangerous expedition. But when forced to decide between her own freedom and the fate of her crew, what will she sacrifice to save what’s left of her home?

Inspired by Norse mythology and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this companion novel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a tale of vengeance, valor, honor, and redemption.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
The Navigator's Touch is a companion novel to The Seafarer's Kiss rather than a direct sequel, those who have already read the first book will be familiar with some of the characters but you could start with this book without getting lost. Ragna was the shield-maiden who rescued Ersel in the first book but this instalment is really her story, it starts before The Seafarer's Kiss then there is a small amount of crossover before it continues on past events we've already read about. We get to find out more about her childhood, what happened when her village was attacked, how she lost her hand and see if she manages to get revenge on the people who wronged her.

I love the way Julia Ember has used Norse Mythology for the base of this series, then the first book is her take on The Little Mermaid story while this one is more of an origin story for Captain Hook from Peter Pan, with a female Hook which just makes it even better! Ragna is a brilliant character, all her life she dreamed of becoming a warrior so it's something she trained hard for but when her village is attacked and she is captured by her enemy she has to use those skills to make her escape. She is absolutely consumed by her need for revenge which makes her come across as quite a hard character in the beginning, she is utterly ruthless and even when she manages to get her own ship she doesn't trust her men because they are all mercenaries.

What I really enjoyed was seeing how much Ragna changed and grew throughout the story as she slowly learned how to be a better leader, one who inspired loyalty through her actions rather than by fear. Ragna does treat Ersel quite badly in the beginning but she comes to realise how she affects the people around her and she does try to make amends for her bad behaviour.

Once again this story has a diverse cast of characters, there is an FF relationship and gender neutral characters who are just normal members of the group and not treated like they're there as part of a box ticking exercise. We are introduced to all kinds of creatures from Norse legends too which I really enjoyed.

The Navigator's Touch was everything I had hoped it would be and a wonderful companion to The Seafarer's Kiss, I already mentioned that you can read these books in any order and I'm very happy to recommend both to fans of mythology and retellings.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

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Spotlight & Updated Review: Tangleweed and Brine - Deirdre Sullivan

New Paperback Edition
with extra story included

Paperback edition of bestselling book from 2017, with a bonus story in this edition

A collection of thirteen dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales from one of Ireland's leading writers for young people.

In the tradition of Angela Carter, stories such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a witchy makeover, not for the faint-hearted.

Intricately illustrated with black and white line drawings, in the style of Aubrey Beardsley, by a new Irish illustrator Karen Vaughan.

Visit Deirdre Sullivan's website for more information

Review:
***** I've already posted most of this review before but I wanted to update it to include the additional short story only available in the new paperback edition of the book *****

Tangleweed and Brine is a collection of thirteen feminist fairytale retellings (fourteen in the new paperback edition) written by Deirdre Sullivan and beautifully illustrated by Karen Vaughan. Even as an ebook it's a gorgeous book but I really think I'm going to have to invest in a hardback copy for my library.

These stories aren't always easy to read, just like traditional fairytales they're dark and sometimes disturbing, they definitely don't have the Disney happy endings we've grown so used to these days! In fact you'll probably find some of these stories are now even darker than the original versions but they're very reflective of the way women were treated at the time the originals were written and they feel very true because of that. These stories don't all have happy endings for the female characters but some of the girls manage to find their own path and take revenge on the people who wronged them which I loved.

In case you're interested here's a list of the stories included (and the original tale they're based on):
1. Slippershod (Cinderella)
2. The Woodcutter's Bride (Little Red Riding Hood)
3. Come Live Here and be Loved (Rapunzel)
4. You Shall Not Suffer... (Hansel and Gretel)
5. Meet the Nameless Thing and call it Friend (Rumplestiltskin)
6. Sister Fair (Fair, Brown and Trembling)
7. Ash Pale (Snow White)
8. Consume or be Consumed (A Little Mermaid)
9. Doing Well (The Frog Prince)
10. The Tender Weight (Bluebeard)
11. Riverbed (Donkeyskin)
12. The Little Gift (The Goose Girl)
13. Beauty and the Board (Beauty and the Beast)
14. Waking Beauty (Sleeping Beauty) - this new story is in the paperback edition only!

It's hard to pick a favourite story but I think it would probably have to be either Riverbed for sheer creep factor and the brilliant ending or The Little Gift which adds a lesbian romance to the tale of The Goose Girl.

Just one of the gorgeous illustrations you'll find in this book,

this one is from The Little Gift.

The new story in the paperback edition is called Waking Beauty and is based on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. It was surprising to see that this story was from a male POV (I believe all the others are from the women's POV) but that made so much sense once the story gets going. An interesting look at some men's sense of entitlement when it comes to what women owe them and particularly relevant today when we're talking more and more about Me Too and rape culture. I think that was possibly my new favourite story in the collection!

Source: Received from Little Island Books in exchange for an honest review

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